“Most of our regulars are away during the holidays. But your friend Mrs. Strong-Rodman is coming in tonight. Is the corner table all right?”

“Perfect.” Charlie smiled.

Charlie and Samantha sat down. She put her hand across the table and Charlie immediately took it.

“Thank you, Charlie.” She smiled at him.

“For what?” he asked.

“For making it all so easy.”

“Let’s talk about something else.” He was delighted to be back at their favorite table. “Would you like a drink?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“Waiter!” Charlie raised his hand. “We’d like two martinis up.”

Just as Samantha was easing into her chair she saw Adrienne Strong-Rodman looking tighter and even thinner coming toward their table.

“I wish I had known you guys were in town. Thanks for calling me.” She kissed Samantha.

Samantha didn’t dare ask where Paul was. She had read that it was inevitable now that he would be going to jail.

“Did you hear about Judy Tremont in Aspen?” Adrienne leaned over their table. “Poor Albert. And those kids. I heard she died on the ski slopes. Ran into a tree or something.”

“It’s an awful story,” Samantha replied.

“It’s been so tense here. It’s hard to remember about human accidents,” Charlie replied, and put his hand on Samantha’s knee. “I asked Samantha to come home yesterday because I’ve been so anxious here alone.”

“That’s right. I heard you were out there,” Adrienne said.

Samantha knew Adrienne was well aware that she was in Aspen with Barry. She had impulsively canceled her show to go there with him. And she also knew Adrienne was enough of a real friend not to ask any more questions. Just like Samantha wasn’t asking anything more about Paul. Women like Adrienne didn’t dwell on the facts of other people’s mistakes. They were on to the next.

“I think we all have had enough of Samantha being away.” Charlie managed to smile with the heart of Omaha on his sleeve. “We need her right here. Isn’t that true, Adrienne?”

“Absolutely. Well, great seeing you both.” Adrienne touched both their shoulders.

“Give our love to Paul,” Charlie added.

“I’ll tell him. He’ll be so happy to hear you were here together.” Adrienne walked back to her table.

Samantha tried to see who Adrienne was with but didn’t recognize them.

“I don’t think we know who she’s with.” Charlie read her mind and had comfortably reverted to using the mutual “we.” “All the regulars really are out of town. Even my business is slow. Adrienne must be with her B-team. I’ve never seen them before.”

The waiter arrived with their martinis.

“Shall we have a toast?”

“There isn’t very much to toast to.”

“To us. Long may we wave.” He lifted his glass.

“Yes, to us.” She clinked his glass and they took a sip.